§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will estimate the distribution of households in each region of England692W between the income bands he recommends for the assessment of future tuition fees; and if he will estimate the marginal fee contribution increase rate against household income increase in the income band where a fee contribution short of the total amount is required. [22975]
§ Dr. HowellsOn the basis of the most recent information reported by the LEAs for English and Welsh domiciled students attending institutions in the UK we have estimated that just over 30 per cent. of students (where parental income is taken into account) will make no contribution to fees. This corresponds to aresidual family income of less than £16,945. Just under 30 per cent. of students will contribute less than £1,000, corresponding to a residual family income between £16,945 and £27,115.
Under the present mandatory awards regulations, parental contributions are calculated on the basis of residual income, which is derived by subtracting certain allowances from parents' gross income for income tax purposes. Total household incomes will thus usually be higher than the figures for gross income and residual income quoted above, but the figures will vary from household to household according to their family circumstances.
The table sets out figures for 1995–96 for each of the regions of England, as requested.
Mandatory Awards in England1,2 Dependent Students Assessed parental contributions academic year 1995–96 Per cent. Government Office region Nil parental contribution Parental contribution up to £1,000 North East 34.3 28.6 North West 35.6 26.1 Merseyside 38.7 27.6 Yorkshire and Humberside 34.3 27.0 East Midlands 32.2 28.3 West Midlands 36.5 27.4 Eastern 27.7 23.9 London 39.9 21.1 South East 26.2 21.7 South West 34.2 26.7 1 Made by LEAs in England to Students normally domiciled in their area. 2 Regional totals have been grossed to compensate for missing returns. In academic year 1998–99 a students contribution to the £1,000 tuition fee will be calculated as follows: Students with residual family income between £16,945 and £21,659 will be required to contribute £1 for every extra £13 of residual parental income above £16,945. Students are then expected to contribute a further £1 for every £9.20 by which residual family income exceeds £21,660.